It was great to see No. 19 enshrined with the greatest players to ever lace up the skates Monday night as the Captain Steve Yzerman was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.

My favorite memories from Steve’s days as the Red Wing captain were of course those of playoff wins and Stanly Cup Championships. The one that sticks out  was back in 1996, when he scored In I believe it was double OT against the Blues in game seven of the Western Conference Semifinals. The shot from the circle that rang off the cross bar and into the net. I didn’t see it live, but as I was dozing off that night I was listening to the classic voice of Ken Kal on the radio and just as I was almost asleep, I woke up to hear “Yzerman with the shot and HE SCORES!” The next day I watched Sportscenter to see how it went down and I was floored.

My second and third Stevie Y moments came int 1997 and 1998. After following the Red Wings for about eight or nine years, I had been subject to early playoff exits, unthinkable Stanly Cup loses, and watching the Avalance top the wings in the 1996 after Claude Le-puke smashed Kris Draper’s face into the boards.

Finally in 1997, the Wings ended the longest cup drought at the time, defeating the Flyers in four-straight. Watching he who’s name should not be mentiond (the commishiner), had the Cup to Stevie Y was the most rewarding experiance I had ever had as a Wing Nut. Then to watch it again the very next year was just as rewarding.

I think Lindstrom has been a great captian, and was the right choice to replace the legend, but it was Stevie Y that was the first piece of the puzzle that finaly made people forget about the Dead Wings, and turned Detroit into Hockeytown!

Congrats Steve on the HOF induction. No other Red Wings player has deserved it more than you. Thanks for everyhing you have done on the ice and continue to do in the front office.

Wingnut5013